Editing Khosrow II (section)

=== Overthrow of Hormizd IV and accession ===
[[Image:Hormidziv.jpg|thumb|[[Ancient drachma|Drachma]] of [[Hormizd IV]]]]
In 590, Hormizd IV had his prominent general [[Bahram Chobin]] disgraced and dismissed. Bahram, infuriated by Hormizd's actions, [[Sasanian civil war of 589-591|responded by rebelling]], and due to his noble status and great military knowledge, was joined by his soldiers and many others. He then appointed a new governor for [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]], and afterwards set out for the Sasanian capital of [[Ctesiphon]].{{sfn|Shahbazi|1988|pp=514–522}} The legitimacy of the [[House of Sasan]] was based on acceptance that the halo of kingship, the ''[[xwarrah]]'', was given to the first Sasanian shah, [[Ardashir I]] ({{reign|224|242}}) and his family following the latter's conquest of the [[Parthian Empire]].{{sfn|Shayegan|2013|p=810}} This was now, however, disputed by Bahram Chobin, thus marking the first time in Sasanian history that a Parthian dynast challenged the legitimacy of the Sasanian family by rebelling.{{sfn|Shayegan|2013|p=810}}{{sfn|Pourshariati|2008|p=96}}

Meanwhile, Hormizd tried to come to terms with his brothers-in-law Vistahm and Vinduyih, who according to the [[Syriac language|Syriac]] writer [[Joshua the Stylite]], both "equally hated Hormizd".{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2010}}{{sfn|Shahbazi|1989|pp=180–182}} The two brothers overthrew Hormizd in a seemingly bloodless palace revolution.{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2010}}{{sfn|Shahbazi|1989|pp=180–182}} They had Hormizd blinded with a red-hot needle, and put Khosrow II on the throne.{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2010}}{{sfn|Al-Tabari|1985–2007|loc=v. 5: p. 49}} Sometime in the summer of 590, the two brothers then had Hormizd killed, with at least the implicit approval of Khosrow II.{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2010}} Nevertheless, Bahram Chobin continued his march to Ctesiphon, now with the pretext of claiming to avenge Hormizd.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2017|p=178}}

Khosrow then took a [[carrot and stick]] attitude, and wrote a message to Bahram Chobin, stressing his rightful claim to the Sasanian kingship: "Khosrow, kings of kings, ruler over the ruling, lord of the peoples, prince of peace, salvation of men, among gods the good and eternally living man, among men the most esteemed god, the highly illustrious, the victor, the one who rises with the sun and who lends the night his eyesight, the one famed through his ancestors, the king who hates, the benefactor who engaged the Sasanians and saved the Iranians their kingship—to Bahram, the general of the Iranians, our friend.... We have also taken over the royal throne in a lawful manner and have upset no Iranian customs.... We have so firmly decided not to take off the diadem that we even expected to rule over other worlds, if this were possible.... If you wish your welfare, think about what is to be done."{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=241}}